The NFL is a violent world filled with collisions that excite fans — and, at times, cripple players. In an attempt to severely curtail helmet-to-helmet hits that have resulted in concussions and knocked players out of games, the NFL has ratcheted up enforcement with heavy fines and threats of suspensions.

Commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a directive to each team Wednesday about illegal hits to the head and ordered all teams to show a video demonstrating examples of legal and illegal hits.

Former Broncos safety John Lynch said the NFL is trying to change the way the game is played.

"I think we genuinely have a commissioner who cares about player safety," said Lynch, who was fined many times in his 14-year career for late hits. "I think before maybe they paid lip service to it; maybe they were worried about the PR of it. But they now are to a point where they have data they didn't have five, or even three, years ago about concussions and head trauma. They're dead set on changing some things."

NFL football operations chief Ray Anderson said the league is not changing rules, but rather making a point to better enforce its rules. Lynch disagrees.

"I think there needs to be a little more transparency," Lynch said. "They need to just say they're trying to change things, that they are trying to change the culture, and that they need to be the standard bearer for youth football and high school football."

After a succession of violent helmet-to-helmet hits Sunday, the NFL began cracking down. On Tuesday, Steelers linebacker James Harrison was fined $75,000 and Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather and Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson were each fined $50,000 for hits in games this past weekend.

In addition, Anderson publicly warned that suspensions would be doled out "immediately" in the future for offending players, including first-timers.

"One of our most important priorities is protecting our players from needless injury," Goodell said in a statement Wednesday. "In recent years, we have emphasized minimizing contact to the head and neck, especially where a defenseless player is involved. It is clear to me that further action is required to emphasize the importance of teaching safe and controlled techniques, and of playing within the rules."

Goodell emphasized that coaches are every bit as responsible as players for making sure the rules are followed and failure to comply will subject the coach, and the team, to discipline.

Most of the hits drawing attention are directed at receivers who are trying to catch a pass in the open field in what the league considers a defenseless position. League rules prohibit defensive players from leaving their feet, or "launching" into a defenseless player or leading with the helmet to make contact with another player's helmet.

"A lot is made of 'we should punish, we should punish, we should punish,' and in some situations tell the player what to do in certain situations," McDaniels said. "I don't think it's being coached anywhere. Players just have to be smart and do the best thing to get the player down."

"There's so much happening so quickly," Raiders coach Tom Cable said. "To say someone is trying to do that is wrong. I think we're educating them constantly."

NFL

There is concern among players that those leveling fines or suspensions from the league office won't always be able to decide which hits were unavoidable collisions to both players going for the ball.

There also is the matter of the helmet-to-helmet collisions that occur on virtually every play along the offensive and defensive lines, and when a defender tackles a running back in traffic — a play in which the offensive player often initiates the contact.

"It may be to a point now where we need to just say we're fining for violent hits and that's it," Lynch said. "But football is a violent game. How do you make these changes? Because once you open up one thing, there are others to look at. You look at play in the line and linebackers hitting running backs, there is helmet-to-helmet contact on every play."

And defensive players, such as Broncos lineman Kevin Vickerson, understand the concern over potential head injuries but also see infractions they consider equally deserving of suspensions occurring on other parts of the field. An example is the chop block, in which an offensive player engages a defender above the waist while another player blocks the defender low, which can easily result in a severe knee or leg injury.

"All the rules are really set up for offense," Vickerson said. "Rules for going after the quarterback's knees should be the same for defensive linemen. You're taking years off a man's career.

"In the end, you have to just play the game, do the best you can. You can't think about what might happen if you tackle somebody. You have to do your job the best you can."

The law is the law

The NFL's directive on helmet-to- helmet hits mostly involves a defender hitting a receiver in what is considered a "defenseless" position. By rule, a defender doesn't have to make first contact to the offensive player's helmet to be subject to discipline.

Here is Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8 (unnecessary roughness):

"h) If a receiver has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself, a defensive player is prohibited from launching (springing forward and upward) into him in a way that causes the defensive player's helmet, face mask, shoulder, or forearm to forcibly strike the receiver's head or neck area — even if the initial contact of the defender's helmet, face mask, shoulder, or forearm is lower than the receiver's neck."

Goodell statements

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's memo to all NFL teams and the message that will be read to all players and coaches. A video will also be shown to coaches and players.

Memo

"One of our most important priorities is protecting our players from needless injury. In recent years, we have emphasized minimizing contact to the head and neck, especially where a defenseless player is involved. It is clear to me that further action is required to emphasize the importance of teaching safe and controlled techniques, and of playing within the rules. It is incumbent on all of us to support the rules we have in place to protect players."

Message

"One of our highest priorities is player safety. We all know that football is a tough game that includes hard contact. But that carries with it an obligation to do all that we can to protect all players from unnecessary injury caused by dangerous techniques from those who play outside the rules. The video shown today shows what kind of hits are against the rules, but also makes clear that you can play a hard, physical game within the rules. Violations of the playing rules that unreasonably put the safety of another player in jeopardy have no place in the game, and that is especially true in the case of hits to the head and neck. Accordingly, from this point forward, you should be clear on the following points:

1. Players are expected to play within the rules. Those who do not will face increased discipline, including suspensions, starting with the first offense.

2. Coaches are expected to teach playing within the rules. Failure to do so will subject both the coach and the employing club to discipline.

3. Game officials have been directed to emphasize protecting players from illegal and dangerous hits, and particularly from hits to the head and neck. In appropriate cases, they have the authority to eject players from a game.

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